Loose-leaf binder



E. w. JAPS LoosE LEAF BINDER' prill 26, E927.

[mm/Of I @Af/W0 Wfwf wie Patented Apr. `26, 1927.

BERNARD W. Jars, orMINNEAroL1s,1vIivnnsorA. i

LOOSE-LEAF BINDER.

Application filed April 17, Y1926. Serial No. 102,765.A v

This invention relates to improvements in loose leaf binders and more particularly to the locking means therefor.

An objectl of the invention is to provide a loose leaf binder of simple inexpensive construction comprising aV bar having spaced posts secured thereto and adapted to receive a similarly shaped hollow member having a locking means mounted therein Vand operable eXteriorly of the member for securing it to the posts in adjusted positions.V Y

A further object of the` invention is to provide a loose leaf locking device comprising, a member having normally expanded clamping sleeves mounted therein adapted to receive a pair of posts mountedin acomplemental bar, said memberhaving means mounted therein and engageable with the sleeves for contracting them to grip the posts and secure Vthe member thereto.

A further object is to provide a device for a loosev leaf binder comprising a. hollow member having a Vpair ofk split clamping sleeves mounted therein, vmeans being provided within said member for preventing the sleeves from becoming separated therefrom. v

The particular l object of the invention, therefore is to provide an improved locking device for loose leaf binders. f

@ther objects of the invention will appear from the following description, and the'accompany/'ing'.drawings and will be pointed out in the annexed claims. Y ,Y Y

In the accompanying drawings, there has been disclosed a structure designedto carry out the various objects' of the invention, but it is to be understood that Athe inventionis not confined to the eXactfeaturesv shownas various changesmay be made lwithin the scope of the claims which follow.

In the accompanying'drawings forming part of this specification,

Figure 1 is aperspective view of a loose leaf binder showing the invention applied thereto;V v Y Figure 2` is an enlarged detailed sectional view showing ,the lclamping sleeves mounted in the hollow member and the mea-ns for contracting the Vsleeves togrip the posts se-` v cured to thecomplemental bar;

Figure .3 isa sectional lan view on the line 3 3 of Figure 2; Y ,v Figure 4.. is a perspective view ofone of the clamping sleeves removed fr-omthe hollow, member4 showing the means Yprovided locking thereon for preventing it from vbecoming separated from the member;

Figure 5 is a plan view partiallyin sec-` tion showing a modified construction; and

Figure 6 isa cross sectional view on the line 6-6'of Figure 5.

In thefselected embodiment of the inven-l y tion here shownthere is illustrated, for pur- Y poses of disclosure, a loose leaf binder, of

ordinary construction, comprising, `respec-` tively, the top and bottom covers 11 and .12y vbetween which the usual leaves 13 are ser cured. The means provided forsecuring'together the two covers consists ofa'barg 14 having a plurality ofsectional posts 15 se-v cured theretoas shown in ,Figure 2. rlfhese posts are'of ordinary construction and need not be described in detail, The Aim 1i is preferably hollow and hassuitablecollars 16 secured therein as indicated at 17 ,which collars are threaded to receive the threaded Y.

eXtensionlS `ofthe lower post section, ras shown o n thel right hand sidelof Figure 2. Each collar 16 is also provided with a counterbore 19 adaptedrto receive the shoulderof providing a substantial connection `bet-ween collarand post, and to prevent-break-l age of the threaded extension 18.

'21 of the lowerpost sections for the purpose iA feature of this inventionresides Vnovel means provided for securing the hol-' low` member V22 to the posts 15g'v This inem- .e I ber is adjustably secured to. theposts sothat lof split .clamping sleeves 23 mounted in suitable apertures 21iprovidedl Vin the Walls thereof as shown in the upper portion/of Figure 2. Eachclamping sleeve 23 is split f on one side as indicated at 25 inFigure 4,

and'has a iiange 26 provided at one endv thereof adapted to engage the (wall, of the hollow member 22 when inserted in the ,aperf tures 21ithereof as shown lin Figure 1. Lugs 27 are provided` in the wall of each sleeve fr l 23 adjacent the flanges 26. lliesev l'ugsfunc'-v tion to prevent thersleeve's fromaccidentally becoming separated fr om thev `member 22 .whenV the 4device is unlocked as shown in Figure 3. The sleeves 23 are lmade from a suitable resilientmaterial so that when in lunlocked position, as Ashown in Figure 3,

they will be expanded against, the lwalls of the apertures 24 provided in the hollow member 22.- When thus expanded the posts loniay readily -be inserted through the sleeves as is clearly shown in Figure 3. n

The means provided vfor contracting the sleeves 23 to-l grip Vthe posts l5 consists. ot

l a threaded stem 28 mounted in a plug 29 Yni litted'into one end ot the hollow member 22 as shown in Figures 2 and 3. A linger grip 3:1 is provided upon the projectingend of the stem 28 whereby it may be coiiveniently rotated from the exterior ot the inember 22'. A block 32 is received in threaded engagement with' the stem 28 and has a strap 33 secured thereto which substantially encircles the two clamping sleeves 23 as ticularly shown in F igure 3.

A ueshaped' 'member 34 is preferably mountedV between the two sections of the `strap 33 adjacent the block 32 ,adapted to engage the adj acen't sleeve' 23 when the stem 28 is: rotated to contract the two sleeves.`

This VU-shape'd' `member provides a `bearing. surface' for the end of the threaded stem 28V vwhen the' sleeves 23 are in locked positiomthereby Vpreventing'the rotation ol' the stein V28` from relatively rotating ythe sleeve' 23', which mightl occur if the stem engaged the vsleeve directly'. When the hollow membe`r` 2v2 has been mounted upon the postv 15,

as shownY in Figure' 2, and the lingergrip 3"1isv rotated, the block 32 Awilly bemoved towfard the block 29 as a result otits threaded engagement with the stemY 28',v

there/by cruising'` the loop 35 adjacentthe opposite end of th-e Vmember 32 to engage theslee've 23:. As' soon' as the end' of the threaded stem 28v engages the U-sliaped ineinlbei" 34, thev latterl will ,be orced into'engageinentwith' the adjacent sleeve 23 at'ter f which continued rotation of the stem 28 will i cau'se. the two sleeves to be' contractedV to grip the' po'sts l5'as shownV in Figure l. .Such

contracting' ott-he .sleeves 23' is effected as a result ot the4v sleeves being clamped against the" sides of thebores 24', caused by thejro'- tationl of the' stem 28 tending to force the two sleeves towards each' other.` Vhen it is desired` to release the hollow member 22 from Vthe posts` 1 5, the threaded steml 28 will be rotated in the opposite direction, thereby allowing the sleeves 28 to' expand Vto their normalposition against the' walls of the apertures 24, after which the member 22 may!V readily Vbe removed from the posts. The sleeves- 23VK are preferably 'arranged' in 'i the position shown in F igure" 3, wherein it will be' noted that'the slotted opening 25 in each" sleeveA is arranged transversely of the bar. Ythereby permitting the sleeves to be readily contracted' when the stem 28 is rotated as above described. i l j i Figures` aand' 6v illustrate av modified conev struction wherein clai'npingsleeves' 36 are niount'ed in blocks 37 which are encircled` parand engaged by the stra-p 3:8 as shown in Figure 5. Each block 37 is provided with a socket 39 adapted to receive'a projection il provi-ded iii the wall oi" each sleeve`36,

.as shown in Figure 6.

y These sockets 39 and projections 4l function to prevent the sleeves 36 trom becoming separatedfrom theV member 22,' when the sleeves are in unlocking position. The sleeves 36 are alsoheld against relative rotation within the locks 37 asy ail resul-t ot the projections 4l and sockets 39. j y j The' construct-ion of thisnovel loc'l'r'ing'device is such that it maybe manufactured at SO a minimum cost'.A By means or the 'lu-gsy 2T formed on the walls ot the'sleeves'23", the latter may readily be assembledinthe hollow member' 22' by inserting themin-to apertures 24 and applying a slight pressure thereto until the sleeves contractsuiiic-iently to permit the lugs 27 tof pass through theV apertures 24 i-n the adjacent wall of tliev iov member Y'22. After t-lie lugs' 27 havev thus 1 tially simultaneously engaging eaehr sleeve' at 'one'1side, and contracting the salme togrip said posts; f

2. In a loose-'leaf binder thecombination n with a kbar having" spaced po'stsinoufnted thereon 'ott -a hollow* clamping member having split clamping sleei'fesexftending there# *Y through and 'normally=-expaiide`d tol receive the posts, and loop element witl'ili'fn the hollow `mei'iiber encircfling the clamping sleeves, and threaded stemv engageable' with' saidy loop" element to translate the same and substantially' simultaneously contract or re-v lease saf'id sleeves. n f 1 1 3. In a loose-'leaf binderAv the combination with a; bfar having spaced' posts mounted thereon and laterally extending therefrom', a`V hollow clamping memb-'erfhfavi-ng normally expanded? clamping sleeves centered' by :exv pansion therein, an el-ement within thememi ber enci'rcing all sleeves and adaptedqwhen n translated to contract the' sle'e'ves to gripfthe posts.

l. In a ot a hollow member adapted tobe adjustably secured' to said post, anA aperture in said member having a-'elanip'i'ng sleeve mounted' therein adapted to receive sai'd'post, means encircling saidsleeve and having a connecloose leatbinde'r the 'combination .l with a bar hav'iiigf a post mounted tliereili'r,l

tion with a threaded stem whereby said sleeve may be contracted to grip said post,

said stem extending through one end of said of the `walls of said member, and integral lll lugs on the wall of said sleeve adjacent said lange adapted to engage the inner surface of said Wall, thereby locking said sleeve against axial movement in said member.

5. In a loose leaf binder the combination with a bar having a post mountedtherein, of a hollow member adapted to be adjustably seculred to said post, an aperture in said member having a clampingV sleeve mounted therein adapted to receive'said post, means encircling said sleeve and whereby said sleeve maybe contracted to grip said post, a. ange on one end-o said sleeve adapted to engage the outer surface of one of the Walls olsa-id member, and integralilugs on the wall of said sleeve adjacent said lange adapted to engage the inner surface of said wall, thereby locking 4said sleeve against vaxial movement in said member.

6. A loose leaf binder comprising aV bar having spaced posts thereon, a second bar having holes therein vto receive said posts, means within said second bar forming a lining for saidholes and through which said posts are thrust, said means being capable ot contraction and expansion to grip said posts, and a device for contracting said means to clamp said posts in said ho es.

7. A loose leaf binder comprising a bar having spaced posts thereon, a second bar having holes therein to receive said posts, means within said second bar forming a lining for said holes and through which said posts are thrust, said means being capable of contraction and expansion to grip said posts, and a device tor contracting said means to clamp said posts in said holes, said device including a strap adapted to engage and contract said clamping means, and a threaded stem having a lingergrip for operating said strap.

8. In a loose leaf binder, the combination with a bar having spaced Vposts mounted thereon, ot' a second hollow bar having holes therethrough and clamping sleeves forming linings for said holes,said holes being adapted to receive said posts, a strapmounted in said second bar and encircling said posts and clamping sleeves, a U-shaped member Y sleeves, from one side of each.

engaging one of said clamping sleeves, a stem having a threaded connlection with said strap tor operating it to force said U-sliaped member against one of said lsleeves and simultaneously draw said strap against the other sleeve. I i i 9. .A device of the class vdescribed comprising a binder bar having spaced openings axially parallel, a split sleeve of spring metal within each opening secured 'therein againstv movement in an axial direction, said sleeve in the opening, and means arranged to apply pressure to the sleeves in direction of their alineinent.

l0.` A device or" the class described comprising a binderbar having spaced openings, axially parallel, a split sleeve of spring metal within each opening secured therein against movement in an axial direction, said sleeve beingn'ormally expanded to center the sleeve in the opening, and means arranged to apply l being normally expanded to center the sleeve pressure laterally against each sleeve in drection and against one Vsideonly of the sleeves.

.11. A device of the class described comprising a binder bar having spaced openings, axially parallel, a splitsleeve of spring metal Within each opening secured therein against movement in an axial direction, said sleeve being normally expanded to center the sleeve in the opening, and means arranged` uponthe bar to apply pressureagainst'the l2. A device ot the class described comprising a bar having spaced posts, a second bar havingk openings, and split sleeves within i the openings, normally expanded tok center the sleeves Within the openingsptowregister with and normally slide upon the posts, and n means associated'vvith the sleeves a-ndV bar to apply pressure to one side of leach sleeve.

13.*7Adevice oit the class described comprising a bar having spaced.posts',a second bar having openings, and split sleeves Within f the openings, normally expanded to center the sleeves within the openings to register with and normally slide upon the posts and means associated with the sleeves and bar tol apply pressure to one side of each sleeve, said sleeves passing entirely through the barand i secured tlierewithiii against movement in anl axial direction.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto setV my hand this 14th day of April, 1926.'l Y BERNARD W. JAPS. 

